by Marie Lanza
Mike opened his eyes, startled by Emma hovering over him. “What?”
“You’re infected.” Emma said calmly.
It didn’t take long for Mike to notice her hand was on her gun.
“What’s wrong?” Andy was awake.
“She’s crazy! She’s gonna kill me.” Mike slid back from Emma with panic taking over his body.
Emma didn’t remove her eyes from him. “He’s infected. The Carriers blood got in his wound.”
Andy was fast to his feet. “What’s that even mean? How do you know he’s infected?”
“Look at him Andy! I’d say he doesn’t have much longer.”
“You’re crazy! I knew you were crazy!” Mike shouted as he scooted away from her.
“No, I’m a realist. And you’re going to turn into one of those things out there.” Emma looked to Andy, “We should put him out of his misery.”
“Emma he can hear you!”
Mike looked back and forth between the two of them worried he could be offed at any second.
“If he’s going to die, we should let him go in peace,” Andy said.
“Why? He could kill the next innocent person who comes in contact with him.”
“The innocent come in contact with Carriers every day. What’s one more?”
“I’m not going to kill anyone! Why would I want to kill someone?”
Emma was frustrated, “You think when you turn into one of those things you’ll still have a conscience?”
“Please. Please take my gun and leave me here. Here. Please just take it and let me figure this out alone. I don’t want to die!” Mike was sobbing.
Emma ignored him.
Andy didn’t know how to continue this conversation. The thought never crossed his mind to hurt a living soul who in his mind had done nothing to threaten him. But to Emma, Mike was threatening them. The sicker he got, the closer he was to turning into the monsters from which they spent their days running. Emma went to her bags and picked them up.
“What are you doing?” Andy asked.
“I promised you that you could keep the next living we picked up.” Emma looked at Mike as she spoke, then back to Andy, “I didn’t promise to stick around for it.” Emma walked to the window and climbed up on the stool before looking over her shoulder at Andy, and nodding in the direction of Andy’s gun flatly stated. “Do yourself a favor and use that thing.” Emma climbed out the window, into the darkness and was gone.
* * *
END OF BOOK THREE
The story continues in book four…
Check out Marie’s novel
Fractured: Outbreak Zom-813
Available in paperback and e-book!
Looking back it all began with one news story. A homeless man attacked another down on Skid Row. What didn't make headlines was that neither of these men were ever seen again.
After a deadly virus ravages major cities, Harmony and Dan find themselves in a frantic race to find their loved ones. They're quickly absorbed in a world that has collapsed and surrounded by infection that doesn't discriminate among its victims.
The only question that remains -- did the outbreak already seal their doom?
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